Ironing-machine.



S. J. MILLER.

IRONING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.17. 1908.

950,399. Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. J. MILLER.

IRONING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17. 1908.

3 SHEETB-BHEBT 2.

Svwwwboz S. J. MILLER.

IRONING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IILBD AUG.17. 190a.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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STEPHEN J". MILLER, 0F DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

IRONING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 17, 1908.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Serial No. 448,902.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN J. MiLLnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIroning- Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to collar ironing and folding machines, andparticularly to that type which are especially adapted for turn-down orfolded collars.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this characterwhich will rapidly and etliciently iron, fold, dampen and shape thecollar, and which will compensate for any inaccuracy in the folded seamso that irregular folding is impossible.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel means forholding ithe padded pressure roller in constant engagement with theironing rollers and for regulating the tension of the same.

Another object is the provision of novel means for adjusting the shapingrolls.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, aswill be more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top planview; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is avertical section on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentarylongitudinal section through the shaping rolls; Fig. 6 is a transversesection on line 66 of Fig. 1; and Fi 7 is a fragmentary section throughthe center guide fingers and its pedestal support.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the sidemembers of the frame, which are each provided with suitable sup ortinglegs 3. These side members are helc separated in any suitable manner andare provided with spaced bearing arms 4, in which are journaled theironing rolls 5 preferably four in number and arranged in the are of acircle, as shown in Fig. 1 to conform to the perlphery of the paddedpressure roller 6. This pressure weights may be multiplied as many timesas is necessary to increase the pressure of the lever upon the bearingsand thereby the pressure of the roller 6 upon the ironing rolls 5, orthe pressure may be reduced by removing a given number of the weights asmay be desired. At the feeding end of the machine there is journaled inbearings 13, rigidly secured in the frame pieces 1 and 2, an ironingroll 14., which is arranged below the padded pressure roll 15, thelatter having a shaft 16 mounted in bearings 17, slidably held withinstandards 18 carried upon the opposite members of the frame. The hearingboxes 17 rest upon compression springs 19 and are adjusted by means ofset screws 90, threaded into bridging plates 21, which are secured tothe standards. A suitable feeding table 22 is carried upon brackets 25formed upon the frame meml'iers 1 and 2 and extends closely adjacent themeeting ends of the rolls 14 and 15. Each roll 5 and the bearings whichsupport the same together with the roll 14 and its bearings 13 arehollow so as to receive the fuel pipes 24, which in this instance areconnected to a supply head 25, which receives fuel from the main supplypipes 26.

In order to properly drive the pressure and ironing rolls simultaneouslyso there is no slipping of the collar as it passes therebetween, Iprovide a driving shaft 27 journaled in bearings 28 upon the under sideof the frame pieces 1 and 2. and driven from any suitable source ofpower by the pulleys 29 and 29, the former of which is the idler. Uponthe shaft I secure a small pinion 80 which meshes with a large gear 31upon the pressure roll 6, which gear 31 in turn meshes with a pluralityof gears 32 carried upon the shafts of the ironing rolls 5. The gear 32of the foremost ironing roll 5 is adapted to drive a gear 33 carried bythe padded roll 15, through an intermediate gear 3 1 and the gear 33upon the shaft of the roll engages or meshes with a gear 35 upon theironing roll 14.

Extending rearwardly from the side members 1 and 2 are angularsupporting arms 36 upon which the table 37 rests. The table is alsosupported by braces 38 which extend from the legs 3 to a pointunderneath the table intermediate its length. Extending upwardly fromthe table 37 is a tubular standard 39 having adjustably secured therein,by means of the set screw 40, the angular socket arm 41, upon the outerend of which is provided a spherical socket 42 adapted to receiw ahemispherical bearing head 43 of the folding finger 44. This foldingfinger extends from a point adjacent the discharge end of the ironingrolls, where it is adapted to receive a collar on its curved end 45 to apoint adjacent the folding rolls 46 and 47 to be hereinafter described.The end of the finger adjacent the folding rolls is sharpened as at 48to engage the under seam of the collar in its fold, so as to properlyguide the collar to said folding rolls. Extending downwardly from thebody of the finger 44 is a vertical rod 49 upon which the hemisphericalhead 43 is secured. This rod extends through an aperture in the bottomof the socket 42 and has connected to its lower end a spiral spring 50.The opposite end of the spring 50 is connected to a squared rod, 51,which is threaded at its end to receive a thumb nut 52, by which thetension of the spring may-be adjusted. The squared portion of the rod 51prevents it from turning in the table 37 and thereby when. the finger 44is turned by reason of any inaccuracy in the collar seam, the springacts as a torsion spring to return the finger to normal.

The standard 53 supports the bearings 54 and 55 and the gear casing 56is supported upon the base and upon the shaft of the wheel 46 and hassecured to it a table 57, with forwardly projecting apertured ears 58into which are adjustably secured foldingfinger supporting rods 59 bymeans of the set screws 60. The lower end of these rods is apertured toreceive the attaching bolt 61 of the folding fingers 62. These foldingfingers extend from a point adjacent the middle of the last ironing rollto a point closely adjacent the sides of the folding roll 47 They crossthe finger 44 at a point slightly forward of the support of said fingerand diverge with respect thereto from that point so that the two halvesof the collar are folded upon opposite sides of the roll 47 The platformor table 57 which supports the arms 62 also carries a suitable liquidtank 63 in which is dipped the wick end 64 extending from a moisteningtube 65. The opposite end of this tube 65 is arranged with itsprojecting wick immediately above the end 48 of the finger 44 so thatthe seam of the collar or folding point is moistened to prevent crackingbefore passing through the folding rolls 46 and 47.

The roll 47 is V-shape in cross section and the roll 46 is in the shapeof a double cone pulley to overlap the sides of the roll 47. This roll46 is preferably heated as is customary with the ironing rolls 5 bysupplying fuel through the pipe 66 thereto. The lower roll 47 may alsobe heated in a similar manner. Opposite the standard 53, the shaft ofthe wheel 47 is mounted in a standard 53 which also supports the outerendof the shaft of the wheel 46. A. suitable gear is carried upon theshaft of the wheel 46 which meshes with a similar gear of largerdiameter carried upon the shaft of the wheel 47. This insures the properoperation of the wheels 46 and 47.

Beyond the folding rolls 47 and 46 and situated to one side of theformer is the ironing roll 67 of the shaping set. This ironing roll isheated by a branch from the pipe 66, and has its shaft 68 journaled in asleeve 69 formed integral with the table 37. Its upper end is providedwith a seam receiving annular notch 70 formed to receive the upperfolded edge of the collar. Depending from the table 37 are a pair oflaterally spaced cars 71 in which is pivoted a sleeve bearing adapted toreceive the shaft 73 of the padded pressure roll 74 which is off-setwith respect to the roll 67 and is arranged preferably in alinement withthe folding roll 47 At the outer end of the table an upstanding lug 75has threaded in it the horizontal pressure screw 76 whose inner endbears against the sleeve 72 above the table 37.

Keyed to the driving shaft 27 is a beveled pinion 77 which meshes with asimilar pinion 7 3 carried upon a longitudinal shaft 79 which issupported in bearings 80 depending from the frame 37. The rear end ofthe shaft 79 is provided with a beveled pinion 31 meshing with a similarpinion 82 on a transverse shaft 83 which has at its opposite end abeveled pinion 84 meshing with a pinion 85 on the vertical shaft 86.This vertical shaft has at its upper end a pinion 87 meshing with apinion 88 carried upon the shaft 89 which drives the folding roll 46,the roller 47 may be an idler or it may be driven by a pinion connectedto the shaft 86. The shaft 79 extends beyond the pinion 81 and isprovided with a pinion 90 adapted to engage a similar pinion 91 carriedupon the lower end of the shaft 68 to drive the roll 67. A pinion 92 iscarried upon the outer end of the shaft and engages a similar pinion 93upon the shaft 73 so as to drive the padded roller 74.. This drivingmechanism which has been described for the operation of the rolls 46 and47, and 67 and 74 is merely by way of illustration and I wish itunderstood that changes in this mechanism may be made without in any waydeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In operation the collar is passed between the rolls 1 1 and 15 with itsunder side adjacent the ironing roll 14 so as to iron the underneathside of the collar. After passing through the rolls 14: and 15 thecollar is received between the large padded pressure roll (3 and thefirst ironing roll 5, it is then successively treated by the remainingthree ironing rolls, from whence it passes to the guiding finger 14:. Inits dampened condition the collar falls over on the finger and has itssides engaged by the fingers (32 so as to properly shape the collar forits engagement by the folding rolls 4L6 and 47. When engaged by theserolls the sharpened end l8 of the finger follows the seam of the collarand is adapted to move back and forth as inaccuracies are met with, sothat the collar is properly presented to the rolls ib and 47. Beforebeing ironed by these rolls the collar is moistened upon its seam by thewick (is so as to avoid cracking or splitting of the fabric and topermit proper bending thereof. After passing from the folding rolls I6and t7 the collar is grasped by the forming or shaping rolls (37 and 74fwith its seam or folded edge in the notch 70. After passing throughthese rolls the collar is completely laundried.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of ironing rolls, auniversally adjustable guiding finger to receive the material, a pair offolding fingers located on either side of the guiding finger, and a pairof folding rollers adapted to receive the material from said guiding andfolding fingers.

In a machine of the character described, a series of ironing rolls, anautomatic adjustable guiding linger adapted to receive the materialtherefrom, a pair of folding lingers on either side of said guidingfinger, and a pair of folding rolls adapted to receive the material fromsaid guiding and folding fingers.

3. In a machine of the character described, a series of ironing rolls, aguiding finger adapted to receive the material from said ironing rolls,said finger being automatically and universally adjustable, a pair offolding fingers, one on each side of said guiding finger, means foradjusting said folding fingers, and a pair of folding rolls adapted toreceive the material from said guiding and folding fingers.

4. In a machine of the character described, a series of ironing rolls, auniversally and automatically adjustable guiding finger adapted toreceive the material from said ironing rolls, a pair of universallyadjustable folding fingers, one on either side of said guiding finger, apair of folding rolls adapted to receive the material from the guidingand folding fingers, said guiding fingers adapted to straddle one ofsaid folding rolls, a driving mechanism for said folding rolls, and ashield therefor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN J. MILLER.

Witnesses:

HORACE PURDY, HATTIE L. I-IANLEY.

